Nokomis Comes Back to Beat Gallatin County

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WSIL Sports

CARBONDALE -- Nokomis trailed by 11 points midway through the second quarter but came back to beat Gallatin County 57-54 in overtime at the SIU Class 1A Super-Sectional Tuesday night.

Down by three with just seconds remaining, Josh Belford banked in a 3-pointer from the wing to tie the game at 48 and send it to overtime. But the feeling was short-lived for the Hawks, who were outscored 9-6 in extra time.

Gallatin County (27-4) got off to a hot start. Daine Hish hit three first quarter 3-pointers to put the Hawks up 14-8 after one. They extended that lead to 11 in the second quarter but it all fell apart for the Hawks in the third.

Nokomis (24-9) shot 50 percent from the field in the second half, compared to just 31 percent in the first, outscoring Gallatin County 31-24.

The Redskins will play either Cissna Park or Illini Central in the state semifinals Friday at 2 p.m. at Carver Arena in Peoria.